Sports Reporter
The Springboks took a 2-1 lead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series on Saturday after beating the All Blacks 29-24 at FNB Stadium in Soweto.
South Africa recovered from falling behind twice and produced a powerful second-half display, with Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx scoring after the break as the Springbok scrum and maul increasingly took control of the contest.
The victory means South Africa will head into the fourth and final Test in Baltimore in the United States next Saturday with the series lead after losing the opening Test 33-16 at Ellis Park before responding with a 33-26 victory in Cape Town.
It was also a breakthrough at a venue where the Springboks had previously lost both of their Tests against New Zealand, in 2010 and 2012.
The All Blacks struck first when captain Ardie Savea crossed in the 11th minute while South Africa were down to 14 men following a yellow card to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Kurt-Lee Arendse brought the Boks back into the contest with a try in the 22nd minute after a sweeping South African attack, but Savea responded with his second four minutes later to put New Zealand 12-5 ahead.
South Africa’s scrum then provided the route back into the match.
After New Zealand’s Ruben Love was yellow-carded in the 36th minute, the Springboks opted for a five-metre scrum rather than taking an easier shot at goal.
The decision paid off as the South African pack drove the All Blacks backwards, eventually forcing the referee to award a penalty try that levelled the scores at 12-12 shortly before halftime.
New Zealand regained the lead in the 56th minute when Will Jordan finished an attack sparked by a kick through the South African defence, putting the visitors 17-12 ahead.
But the Springboks responded almost immediately.
South Africa reclaimed the restart and moved the ball quickly across the field, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and replacement Manie Libbok combining before Kriel powered through to score in the 57th minute. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to give the Boks their first lead of the match at 19-17.
From there, South Africa’s forwards began to impose themselves.
A scrum penalty in the 65th minute gave the Boks an attacking lineout and, rather than take the points, they kicked for touch.
The resulting maul drove New Zealand backwards for around 20 metres before Marx emerged with the ball over the tryline in the 66th minute. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion stretched the lead to 26-17.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a penalty five minutes later to make it 29-17 and leave the All Blacks needing two scores in the closing stages.
New Zealand continued attacking and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed after the hooter, with Damian McKenzie converting, but by then the result had already been decided.
The two sides finished with four tries apiece, but the Springboks’ set-piece strength, defensive pressure and greater control in the closing quarter proved decisive.
The result completed a turnaround in the series for Rassie Erasmus’s side after they were comprehensively beaten in the opening Test at Ellis Park two weeks ago.
Ahead of Saturday’s Test, captain Siya Kolisi spoke about the history of the area and the importance of representing South Africa at FNB Stadium, saying the team wanted to acknowledge those from Soweto who had helped shape the country’s history.
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